Villa View: Issue 20/21

Welcome back to Term Three and the commencement of Semester Two. I hope all our families had an enjoyable break despite the lockdown that occurred in the first week. We are very fortunate that Queensland schools could recommence with face-to-face learning this week unlike our cousins in New South Wales.

The situation down south is a timely reminder that we must all remain vigilant and do the right thing when it comes to wearing a mask and practising good hygiene. I remind parents to keep your son at home if he is displaying any flu or cold-like symptoms and to make sure he has a COVID test. The normal protocols we have adopted are as follows.

1. Stay at home and get tested if you are displaying a cough, runny nose and cold or flu-like symptoms.
2. Remain at home until the symptoms have eased and you have received the results of the test to say you are negative.
3. Masks while not mandated, should be worn if it is impossible to social distance in a crowded situation.

Thank you for your understanding and patience with the measures to keep our community safe and to maintain a healthy environment at the College.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you to the many families and students who met with our teaching staff to discuss the academic performance of their student. The teaching staff are always encouraged by the interest shown by our families and the students in the academic program.

The ZOOM platform has been used for the last two Parent-Teacher Conferences across this year. The feedback we are continually receiving from our staff and families is this platform allows connection with teaching staff in a more efficient manner without the hassles of finding a park, the right room and allows the working parents to “zoom in” from their desk if needed.

The Teaching and Learning Office will continue to gather feedback from families and staff so we can make an informed decision about future conferences. We understand without face-to-face meetings we lose a little part of the community engagement with our families that we hold so dear.

Staff News
At the end of this week, we will farewell three staff members. Mr Jonathan Tunny commenced with us at start of the year and has decided to move to retirement. Mr Matt Smith, Year 7 Humanities Teacher has accepted a position at Nudgee College, and we thank Matt for his service to the College over the past seven years. Mrs Mary-Anne Bray, College Receptionist will be retiring after twenty-four years of dedicated service to Villanova College. We thank Jonathan, Matt and Mary-Anne for their work with our students and families and wish them all the best for the future.

College Uniform
As we begin the new term, I thank our families for ensuring our students leave home for school properly attired in the correct uniform. Can I ask please if parents can check on their son’s hat. Many students are missing their hats- they are either in their room or locker or possibly lost. Your assistance with this will be greatly appreciated.

You have made us for Yourself O Lord
And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.

God bless

Mr Mark Stower, Principal

In keeping with the spirit of Reconciliation, Villanova College acknowledges the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples, as the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we stand.  We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.  This has always been, and always will be, a place of teaching and learning connected to country, culture and community. 

Introducing Microsoft Teams for classrooms
During Semester 2, all students will have access to Microsoft Teams digital classroom spaces to support teaching and learning. Over the next fortnight these Microsoft Teams spaces will become available to your son at the discretion of each classroom teacher.

The purpose of Microsoft Teams is to:

• Provide a central, managed space for connected/digital versions of class content, such as OneNote Class Notebooks;
• Integrate access to other Office applications and spaces such as OneDrive, Forms, Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Support meaningful online discussions regarding classwork, homework, learning activities and assessment;
• Facilitate collaboration between teachers and students with shared documents, file spaces and OneNote Collaborative Spaces;
• Integrate key assessment dates with other personal organisation tools such as Outlook Calendar;
• Offer simple, embedded accessibility tools to all students via Immersive Reader, dictation and captioning/translation features;
• Encourage good digital citizenship practices and a supportive digital posting culture.

Paramount to the College’s vision for using Microsoft Teams is how students engage in this online space. Through Microsoft Teams, students now have the ability to discuss and engage with peers and teachers. This is an important opportunity to establish and support a “positive posting culture” at the College. Each student plays an important role in this endeavour. There is no anonymous posting in Teams – every message, reaction and reply leaves an impression on a student’s digital character.

Digital reputations matter a great deal. Whilst Microsoft Teams is internal to the College, it is an important foundational space for modelling and developing effective digital citizenship behaviours. Learn more about the importance of young people’s digital reputations at the Office of the eSafety Commissioner website (https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/your-digital-reputation).

The above key messages will be reinforced at Form Meetings and in classrooms as we commence using Microsoft Teams in this manner.

In addition, please note the following regarding Microsoft Teams use at the College:

• Teams Video Calls and Teams Audio calls are disabled for all students.
• Only students in Years 10 – 12 have access to Teams Chat.
• All students should download the Teams Desktop App, pin it to their Task Bar and have the application open throughout the school day and at home.
• Use of the Teams Desktop app may require more regular, routine over-night charging of BYOD laptops;
• All students can access Teams at any time on any computer/device via https://teams.microsoft.com – however the Teams Desktop app will provide the best experience.
• A detailed Microsoft Teams Quick Start Guide is available for parents at this public address: https://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/BYOD-SitePages-Teams-Student-Quick-Start-Guide-v20210713.png
• Students may access the same Teams Quick Start Guide internally on the homepage of the BYOD Support website (student sign-in required) at: https://vnc4.sharepoint.com/sites/byod/

As students transition towards using Microsoft Teams, there will be some expected teething issues. If your son experiences significant issues with downloading, signing into and accessing Microsoft Teams please raise this with your son’s teacher at the earliest opportunity. Additionally, please contact me at elearning@vnc.qld.edu.au for application support, or byod@vnc.qld.edu.au for technical/laptop system support.

New Semester BYOD laptop health checks and clean-up
The start of a new semester is a great opportunity to assess the health and general condition of your son’s BYOD laptop. Laptops are used in most classes throughout most days – they are an essential tool in your son’s learning. Please take a moment with your son to perform some of these routine maintenance tasks:

• Check HDD space – are there files that can be removed, deleted?
• Recycle Bin – can space be reclaimed by emptying the recycle bin?
• Desktop – are there temporary files that can be moved into OneDrive for archiving, or deleted if no longer used?
• Outlook – are there old messages that can be deleted?
• OneDrive – is the laptop syncing and backing up files? Check for a blue cloud icon in the system tray with no errors or warnings.
• Battery health – does the laptop hold charge? If an older device, is there provision for a replacement battery depending on warranty terms?
• Enable Storage Sense – one of the hidden gems on Windows 10 computers is the Storage Sense app. Run this in the background routinely to monitor and regulate available storage space. Search for it in Windows Settings menu.

If there are any technical/laptop issues identified, please contact the IT Helpdesk at byod@vnc.qld.edu.au – if there are issues with use of installed applications please contact me at elearning@vnc.qld.edu.au

Mr Jason Lane, eLearning Pedagogy Leader

NAIDOC Week, from 4 – 11 July, has been an explicit and visual experience for me in the past week.  It is a time for celebrating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  The first people of Australia.  The theme for 2021 is one of reassurance, comfort, and hope – “Heal Country”.

The word “heal” is positive and it looks to the future.  It gives me a sense that reconciliation has begun.  That our journey towards truth, understanding and a united community is possible.  It is reassuring to think that our sons and daughters will have the opportunities to do better work, turn words into actions and bring healing to the land of Australia.  To the people who have lived here for over thousands of years as well as those who arrive today and tomorrow.

Villanova College is indeed part of the Reconciliation Action Plan – emerging beyond the National Curriculum and towards a formal plan of including Indigenous elders and guests within the teaching and learning spaces of our buildings to reaching out and becoming involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community events, gatherings, and celebrations.

Seeing, hearing and being a part of NAIDOC Week this year, has proven more meaningful than ever before.  On the television, weather reports included Indigenous names instead of colonial titles for cities.  How effective!  What it did to stimulate conversation in our household – the visuals and the audio of names we should know and be proud to use, anytime and anywhere.  This led to searching up information about Indigenous names for seasons, weather conditions and the deep connections to the land, fauna, and flora of Australia that the first peoples recognise.

In the NBL1 world, NAIDOC Week was proudly given the platform for teaching about the traditional owners south and north of the river, Indigenous Round jerseys were worn with pride after time was taken to explain the symbols included in the designs that questioned Australia’s need for a Treaty, surrounded by the water, nature, wildlife, and people who patiently but who proactively seek progress.  Singing and dancing of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were the prelude, half time, and full-time celebrations for teams across Queensland.  We sat in grandstands amongst family groups who proudly embraced their heritage and responsibility as First Nation Peoples.  Over the weekend, AFL and NRL teams showed the same solidarity and respect.

“Heal Country” has made an impact in 2021.  On local and national levels, communities have prepared and promoted the Indigenous peoples of Australia.  May healing be a huge part of our future as human beings, now and forever.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Firstly, welcome back to the new term! I hope all were able to enjoy a refreshing holiday.

In the moments and days following Italy’s recent football victory in the 2020 Euro Final, it was disappointing to hear the story of English star Marcus Rashford and his teammates, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, who were the victims of targeted online racial abuse.

It got Mr Lynam and me thinking, and so, in Year 7 PD this week, we commenced an exploration of racism, prejudice and bullying and used this topical example to stimulate our discussions.

The following statement, released by Marcus Rashford, was read to our Year 7s:

“I don’t even know where to start and I don’t even know how to put into words how I am feeling at this exact time.

“I’ve had a difficult season; I think that’s been clear for everyone to see and I probably went into that final with a lack of confidence. I’ve always backed myself for a penalty, but something didn’t feel quite right.

“During the long run-up I was saving myself a bit of time and unfortunately the result was not what I wanted. I felt as though I had let my team-mates down. I felt as if I’d let everyone down. A penalty was all I’d been asked to contribute for the team. I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?

“It’s been playing in my head over and over since I struck the ball and there’s probably not a word to quite describe how it feels. Final. 55 years. 1 penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had of gone differently.

“Whilst I continue to say sorry, I want to shout out my team-mates. This summer has been one of the best camps I’ve experienced, and you’ve all played a role in that.

“A brotherhood has been built that is unbreakable. Your success is my success. Your failures are mine.

“I’ve grown into a sport where I expected to read things written about myself.

“Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch.

“I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in, but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from. I’ve felt no prouder moment than wearing those three lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of tens of thousands.

“I dreamt of days like this. The messages I’ve received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.

“I’m Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else, I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.”

As we read these proud yet vulnerable words, we are confronted with the challenge of ensuring all members of our local and global community feel valued and respected. For us as parents and educators, we need to ensure our messaging and actions reflect this. Bullying is undoubtedly an issue for all of us. We know bullying can, and does, occur at Villanova. Through our restorative practices though, we look at how the harm that bullying causes can be redressed – with all parties coming to a better understanding of each other as human beings. Our experience of this process has been that it leads, not only to a greater awareness of the far-reaching consequences that our actions can have, but also to a desire to do better, to act with kindness & compassion rather than a need to dominate or prove ourselves ‘superior’. The message to us as parents and educators is that we also need to act with kindness and compassion and to stand united in our support for our boys as they navigate the intricacies of their social environments, both physically and online.

Have a great week.

Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Welcome back to all Senior School families for the commencement of Semester Two. I hope all students had the opportunity to fully recharge their energy during their mid-year break. Whilst there were obvious frustrations with the lockdown and re-introduced restrictions, I hope families had the opportunity to get out and about and enjoy the holiday.

The parent-teacher conferences that were conducted virtually on Monday provided students and parents with further feedback building upon their Academic Reports. I hope that all students have honestly reflected upon their academic performance and progress last semester and coupled with the teacher feedback are articulating new goals for their studies moving forward. It is imperative that all Senior School students return quickly to positive, purposeful, and structured routines in order to set a solid platform for the term ahead.

Mission Australia Youth Survey
I emailed Senior School parents towards the end of last term regarding the participation of Senior School students in this year’s Mission Australia Youth Survey. The Youth Survey 2021 provides a platform for young people to identify their personal aspirations, concerns and to express the issues they think are important in Australia today. In a climate where young people are actively seeking out opportunities to make their views known, the Youth Survey 2021 offers a safe and reliable platform to speak up.

According to Mission Australia, the 2020 results survey results confirmed that COVID-19 has been affecting young people across several life domains. COVID-19 was identified as the second most frequently cited issue of national importance and concerns raised in relation to the impacts of COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns included education, isolation and mental health.

With the participation of our Senior School study body last year, we received a tailored report which provided invaluable data for our pastoral care and counselling teams. We are aiming for our students to complete the survey in either their Form Meeting or ACP lesson within the first two weeks of this term.

 Holiday Reading
With the lockdown occurring during the recent holiday period, it was a perfect opportunity to engage in some quality reading time which I always look forward to. In reading ‘The Resilience Project- Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness’, I was invited to appreciate the personal story of author Hugh Van Cuylenburg and his journey in finding the key steps to leading a happier, more contented and fulfilling life. According to the author, the practice of GEM (Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness) is clinically proven to cultivate positive emotion when practiced consistently as a habit of wellbeing. Furthermore, as part of our Strategic Plan for Student Wellbeing, we are continuing to find ways at the College to expose our young men to these habits to promote their social and emotional learning and development. I commend this book for everyone’s consideration- a thought-provoking and heart-warming story.

“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” – Angela Duckworth

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Living Gratefully and Walking Humbly!

As Term 3 commences we are aware of our neighbour state grappling with the accelerated rate of COVID-19 cases and the impact of lockdown and holding an awareness of the global impact of the pandemic with now some 187,265,506 cases and 4,042,675 deaths.  Our prayers are needed to support those communities globally who are experiencing the devastating impact of the pandemic.  As a school community we are particularly mindful of schools in Sydney, especially St Augustine’s, and around the world where education is faced with the difficulties of remote learning.

In Australia for most we can shift effectively to online learning, but in many countries, devices are shared, and children share the opportunity to go to school, or the radio is being used to teach classes, or a text is sent through the phone outlining work.  In the Philippines, schools that we would normally be visiting on our AFAS immersion have now had over a year of remote learning.  As we come out of our own restrictions in South-East Queensland there is a necessary caution and apprehension that we hold alongside a gratitude for the freedom and safety we have been fortunate to experience.  It is a privilege we must use well to come to school and learn together as a community.

Across the last week of holidays NAIDOC Week was celebrated across Australia.  This year the theme of NAIDOC week was ‘Heal Country’.  Country is more than just the land on which we live. It is inherent to identity. It is respected like a person who sustains every aspect of living – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally.

Our First Nations Peoples speak about Country like a person, sustaining all our lives in every aspect – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally.  NAIDOC 2021 invites our nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia’s national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians. Healing Country means finally resolving many of the outstanding injustices which impact on the lives of our First Nations Peoples. It is about hearing and acting on their aspirations which are the culmination of generations of consultation and discussions among our nations on a range of issues and grievances.  After 250 years, we want this for our future generations. We commit to and support reform based on a fundamental change in the relationship Australia has with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As a family around the dinner table this week we invite you to keep in your prayers those impacted by COVID, and to discuss our commitment to ‘heal country’.

Creator God,
You call us to step lightly together on this land,
to reverence Country and sense its sacred aliveness.
Open our minds and hearts to the values that tie us ever more deeply to Country
linking us firmly with our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
May we work to bring them equality and justice and so heal Country and our Nation.
We pray through Jesus in the power of your Spirit.
Amen.

Forming fine young men at Villanova College
Despite lockdown our Year 10 students have been out in full force across the holidays doing their 10 hours of community service as part of their current Religious Education Unit.  Across the year level with all 160 students involved that is 1,600 hours of contribution in our community!

Several groups came together over the holidays to do clean ups in our local area and to volunteer at Emmanuel City Mission feeding and chatting with people who are experiencing homelessness.  The students involved have commonly shared that it has been insightful to contribute and doing community service provided them with a sense of purpose and capacity to support others.

A huge thank you to the staff involved, especially Miss Jones, Fr Saldie and Fr Peter who gave up their school holidays to be part of the efforts!

Sunday Readings at Home
Please use  this link to access this week’s readings and commentaries.

Ms Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

Welcome back to all for what will be another busy term of sport. It is only Week 1 and already we have many sporting opportunities on offer for all students from Year 5 – 12.

AIC tennis, basketball and rugby league training for all teams from Year 5 – 12 has now commenced. Please note that there are ‘Season Schedule’ documents found on the website under the respective AIC Tennis, Basketball and Rugby League sections which contain the complete training schedule, coaches contact details, uniform expectations, home and away schedule, games times and much more for each of those sports. If you are requiring information regarding your respective sport, I believe all answers should be found within these documents.

Already all A, B, First V and Second V basketball teams from Year 7-12 plus the First IV tennis team have had a trial v Ashgrove on Tuesday afternoon of this week. Another set of trials will be held this weekend against St Patrick’s College for all teams.

Rugby League training is now in full swing. All teams will train at Little Langlands throughout the season. Again, all training times and venues are posted in the respective sport section within the College’s website.

Weekly Team List – Please Read!
The College has now moved to a permanent place to post the weekly team lists.  We cannot post these lists in the ‘Locker Room’ as we have done in the past as this has caused privacy issues. The lists will now be posted in the Parent Lounge and Student Café portals as these places are password protected. Please read the section below regarding accessing these documents. This new system is designed for easy access for those parents using the College App.

The AIC Track and Field program will commence in Week 6 of this term – please be on the lookout for further details via next week’s newsletter and the College’s website. This year we are holding our Interhouse Track and Field Carnival at Villanova Park on Thursday 29 July, that is, on Thursday of Week 3 this term. All students from Year 5 – 12 will be transported by bus to and from Villanova Park on this day. More information regarding the Carnival is found below.

In my opinion, to boost or better a school’s sports program we must firstly look at ‘School Spirit’. I feel fortunate that I am involved in a community where many people often exhibit enormous amounts of school spirit.  Our boys show spirit through participation, enjoyment and support of their mates and the College. May I please ask parents to assist the College in its quest to further develop school spirit by strongly encouraging your boy/s to get involved and to support others when asked.

Over the coming weeks, I will be personally asking some of our talented student athletes to join the AIC Track and Field training program. There is no doubt that our College community gives greatly to each of its students. From time to time, I believe, it is a fair request that the College asks something in return. If a student is good enough and talented enough to represent his college – then he should. It would be a great shame to see our best athletes, musicians or perhaps academic students not use their gifts to benefit the College and to better themselves. We understand the need for a balanced education, and we do not want to over-burden our students, but we want Villanova’s best to shine. If there are issues surrounding a student’s workload which impedes him from participating, please contact the Sports Office. The Sports Office is reasonable in its approach when working with families and students to come up with solutions and alternative programs which are beneficial for all. Again, I urge all students and parents to support this process. If you have a gift, please use it to benefit others.

This weekend we have basketball, rugby league and tennis trials against St Patrick’s College. This will be a further opportunity for coaches to assess players and adjust teams. I would expect some movement of players between teams in readiness for next weekend’s Round 1 fixture against Iona College. Coaches are instructed to choose their teams each week based on attendance, player performance and attitude.

As always, I urge all students to get involved in the sports program and enjoy the challenges you face along the way. Enjoy the term ahead boys!

Goold Hall Under Repair
Due to water damage, Goold Hall is currently offline and is under repair for the next two weeks. We have moved all basketball training and games out of Goold Hall during this time. Please see the alternative training schedule posted in the ‘AIC Basketball’ section on the website via the ‘Locker Room’ page.

Training will revert to the normal schedule found in the ‘2021 Basketball Season Schedule’ document when the hall comes back online. We hope this will be at the start of Week 3 this term.

AIC Tennis, Rugby League and Basketball Trial Round v St Patrick’s College, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 July – Times and Venues
All Year 5 and Year 6 basketball games are played on Friday afternoons. Note – the College will supply bus transportation to and from the venue this Friday afternoon for all Year 5 and Year 6 teams. Departure and arrival times are found within the weekly schedule. All Year 7 – 12 basketball and Year 5 – 12 tennis and rugby league games are played on Saturday.  Please refer to the College’s website to view all times and venues for this weekend’s fixtures against St Patrick’s College.

Covid Restrictions – Trial Round v St Patrick’s
Note the following restrictions which Villanova College and SPC have agreed to for this weekend only. The basketball restrictions may change next week, particularly with regard to the First V spectators.

• Tennis and rugby league – unlimited spectators (must sign in using the Qld Gov QR code).
• Basketball – Year 5 – 12 basketball games, only two parents per player may spectate, no student spectators for this week, including no spectators for the First V basketball game. Loreto and St Martin’s are being used as Villanova’s home venue for this weekend and next.
• Year 5 and Year 6 basketball – Villanova will supply bus transportation to and from the venue for this week only. Only two parents per player if parents are keen to go out and watch.

AIC Tennis, Rugby League and Basketball Teams
All internal AIC tennis, rugby league and basketball trials are complete and are posted within the Parent Lounge and Student Café sections. We hope to re-publish all teams on the web by Thursday of each week. Please note that these teams may change throughout the season depending upon player performance, attendance at training and attitude. In fact, we expect further changes to teams after we play the trials against St Patrick’s this weekend. These trials will assist our coaches to finalise their teams before round 1.

All information regarding the season schedule for tennis, rugby league and basketball is posted on the College’s webpage including bus arrangements for those teams training at Morningside Tennis Centre and Clem Jones Basketball Centre before school. It is only the team lists (and the weekly fixture schedule) which from now on will be placed within the Parent Lounge and Student Café  portals. See instruction below for access

Team Lists and Weekly Schedule – Now Published in the Parent Lounge and Student Café Portals (available via the App)
From Term 3, all weekly Team Lists, including the Weekly Fixture Schedule, can be accessed via the College App.  Simply go to the Villanova College App, click the new ‘Sports’ tile in the bottom right corner. From here, select ‘Team Lists and Weekly Schedule’ from the options available. Please note that you will be required to enter your Parent Lounge username and password initially. The system will remember this password for subsequent log-ins.

In the first instance you may be directed to the Parent Lounge homepage. Simply close this using the cross in the top left corner and then reselect ‘Team Lists and Weekly Schedule’ to access the documents directly.

The icon for App settings (which includes account settings, subscriptions and notifications) can now be found at the bottom of the screen.

The College will send an App alert when these documents are updated weekly.

Students may access the Team Lists via their Student Café portal. They simply log in as usual and select the ‘Links’ button on the top toolbar of the home page. A drop-down box will appear. The boys then select the ‘Team Lists and Weekly Schedule’ button.

The College no longer publishes the Team Lists on the web via the ‘Locker Room’ due to privacy issues. The College will also no longer publish the Team Lists within the shared folder link used last term. Please note that the ‘Locker Room’ will still be the main place where all sports information is given, including the Weekly Schedule which will now be published in the Parent Lounge with the Team Lists for your convenience.

AIC Tennis, Rugby League and Basketball Uniform
Any student who represents the College in AIC tennis, rugby league and basketball must wear the full and correct College uniform. Students who are not dressed correctly will not be permitted to take to the court or field. Uniform standards will be kept and maintained at a high level. The College requires the support of the parent body to ensure these standards are met.

By today all players should have collected their Villanova rugby league jersey or Villanova basketball singlet for hire from the uniform shop in readiness for the trials this weekend (Year 5 and Year 6 boys were given theirs by Mr Everding). Basketball and rugby league players must purchase the correct shorts from the Uniform Shop.

Tennis Uniform

• Villa PE Shorts
• Villa team shirt (Please note – this is not the Villa PE shirt. The ‘team shirt’ is the same shirt worn by all cross country, swimming and track field squad members)
• Villa sports socks
• Villa sports cap (green)

Rugby League Uniform

• Villa rugby league Shorts (not PE shorts nor the football shorts)
• Villa rugby socks (same as Rugby Union and Football socks)
• Villanova rugby league jersey. This jersey is for hire and will be made available through the College Uniform Shop. These jerseys should have been collected by the Year 7-12 students already. Mr Everding has distributed all Year 5 and Year 6 jerseys. The hire cost is $20 for the season and will be charged to your son’s next school fees account.

 Basketball Uniform

• Villa basketball shorts (not PE shorts)
• Villa sports socks
• Villanova basketball singlet. This singlet is for hire and will be made available through the College Uniform Shop. These singlets should have been collected by the Year 7-12 students already. Mr Everding has distributed all Year 5 and Year 6 singlets. The hire cost is $20 for the season and will be charged to your son’s next school fees account.

Trimester 2 Sports Awards and First Tennis, Basketball and Rugby League Presentation Assembly
A combined Trimester 2 Sports Awards and First Tennis, Basketball and Rugby League Presentation Assembly will be held next Wednesday 21 July in the Hanrahan Theatre commencing at 8.40am. The AIC rugby, AIC chess, AIC cross country, AIC golf and AIC football awards will be presented at this assembly.

Please note – only those boys who are receiving an award will be present in the theatre as well as all first tennis, basketball and rugby league players. Each first player may also have up to two parents attend in the theatre. These parents will receive an official invitation by the Sports Office after the First teams are set, this could mean that these parents may not receive their invitation via email until Saturday afternoon/evening after the St Pat’s trial.

All other students from Year 5 – 12 will watch the assembly in their classes via a link stream link. This link will be published to all in our community early next week. Unfortunately, parents of the boys receiving a sports awards cannot be present in person within the theatre. These parents can certainly view the event via the live streaming service.

A full list of award winners will be published on the College’s website within the ‘Locker Room’ by this Friday. These award winners and First players must arrive at the Hanrahan Theatre by 8.15am next Wednesday morning to go through seating arrangements etc.

AIC Rugby Union and Football
The Sports Office is looking to finalise the return of all rugby and football kit bags and equipment. We ask all coaches who still have the kits at home or in the boot of their car to please return them to the Sports Office as soon as possible.

Ben Mowen and Andrew Slack Squad
We hope to publish next year’s Ben Mowen and Andrew Slack squads within the next 4-6 weeks. Those who accept invitation are required to participate in the College’s Track and Field program if asked.

Villanova Inter-House Track and Field Carnival – Compulsory!
All students from Year 5 – 12 are required to attend Villanova’s annual Inter-House Track and Field Carnival held at Villanova Park on Thursday 29 July. All students are to attend school as per normal times. Buses will then transport the boys to and from Villanova Park. We hope all parents support the College to ensure that all boys attend.

 The first events are due to start a 9.45am with the last event run at 2.00pm followed by presentations. All students will be rotated around 8 events on the day, these include the 100m, hurdles (championship event only), bin ball, 200m, Javelin, 800m, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump (a select few in each age group only) and Tug-o-war events. Our aim is to have fun, promote Track & Field, give everybody a go, showcase our best athletes and identify those boys who should be in our AIC Track & Field squad.

Track and Field – Championship Events and ‘Fast and Furious’
To reinvigorate and improve our Track and Field program, the Sports Office has implemented some changes to our Inter-House Track and Field program to include Championship events. Students have the option of competing in either a championship or non-championship events. Championship events being competitive based and non-championship considered to be more participatory based.

Boys who wish to compete for a championship event can build up points for themselves which will be used to determine the Year Level Track and Field Champions on the day and those who we wish to be in our Track and Field squad.

All students from Year 5 – 12 may sign up for one, two or all of the Championships events, these include – the 100m, 200m, 800m, hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put and javelin events.

How do you sign up for a championship event?

Stations will be setup in various places around the College this Friday for boys to sign up. Boys simply turn up to the station and write their name next to the event they wish to compete in at a championship level. These stations are located as per below.

• Year 5 and Year 6 Championship Sign-on (Junior School) – this Friday, first break in the Junior School assembly area
• Year 7 – Year 9 Championship Sign on (Middle School) – this Friday, first break in front of Goold Hall
• Year 10 – 12 Championship Sign on (Senior School) – this Friday, second break in the Senior School precinct

Students who do not wish to participate in the championship events will automatically compete in the non-championship program.

All boys will be given the opportunity to compete in a ‘fast and furious’ race. We are looking for our 10 best runners in each age group to nominate themselves for this event. The finalists will then compete in the first event at the Villanova Inter-House Track and Field Carnival in front of the entire school for the ‘fast and furious’ final.

At the end of the day, we want Villanova’s best athletes to compete against each other for the College to identify our best athletes to join our AIC Track and Field Program. It would be reasonable to expect that all ‘A’ team members in all sports, nominate for at least one Championship event. Those aspiring for inclusion in the Ben Mowen, Andrew Slack, Junior Football Development Squad and First football candidates for next year’s season must nominate or they will be excluded from the squads. Get in and have a go boys!

AIC Track and Field Training
AIC Track and Field training officially commences the week beginning Monday 16 August, which is the week after Ekka week. This year all students from Year 5 – 12 will train on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at Villanova Park. A bus will transport all athletes to and from each training session. We hope to commence training at 3.45pm and conclude by 5.15pm. The bus should return to the College around 5.40pm.

The coaches will cover all track and field disciplines across all age groups at these sessions. Training as a Year 5 – 12 squad will increase team spirit and ensure our athletes are able to attend the various sessions we have on offer.

A full program will be available on the College’s website within the next three weeks.

Villanova Runners Club

Where – Whites Hill Reserve, Boundary Rd, Camp Hill
Who – Open to all students/parents/siblings/friends etc.

This activity is an initiative of the AIC Juniors Cross Country Coach – Mr Tom Lonergan. It is an opportunity for all aspiring AIC Middle Distance runners to complete an extra training session each week. Parents, siblings and friends of the athletes are invited to participate in the training. One of the training activities will be a Tabata session. Tabata is an anaerobic activity which complements fitness for running. Another component of this session is a Bush Run which utilizes the many Trails in the Whites Hill bushland area. Further information about this program can be gained by contacting Mr Lonergan email: lonert24@gmail.com

Villa Runners Club will be offered every Sunday (4 – 5pm) from Sunday 18 July through to Sunday 3 October.

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Augustine Centre Update
Our Facilities Team and a number of tradespeople have been working tirelessly over the past month to ensure our Augustine Centre is back and running for all lessons and rehearsals.  For those who have experienced the space, the comments refer to how the place has been lifted and is more vibrant – certainly things we want for a creative space!  The new teaching and learning resources fitted in the room are fantastic and will bring what we offer music students at Villanova into the 21^st Century.

I would like to extend my thanks to the College community for their continued support of the music program whilst we were away from home.  I would also like to thank the support of the Board and Leadership in ensuring we were able to remediate the building in an effective and timely manner to minimise impact to learning.  Recognition must go to the students and staff who demonstrated grit over the past two – three months working through some challenging conditions yet keeping the program together.  Finally, I would like to thank the Maintenance Department for the work they undertook on top of their regular schedule to ensure our students returned to such a fantastic space.

We hope you enjoy the images below of our newly minted spaces and look forward to sharing these with our community as they move through the music program.

QCMF Recordings – Week 2
A schedule for our QCMF Recordings has been distributed to families today.  Please ensure you take a moment to engage with this and note when your son will be required for filming.  Students are required at the Playhouse 15 minutes before their recording time, in performance uniform.  Instruments are not to be stored in the storeroom behind stage next week, but in the Playhouse for ease of access. Please click here for the Recording Schedule.

Rehearsals run as per usual during this week for all ensembles.
Year 5 students in the Year 5 Bands and Orchestra (Tuesday Morning Rehearsals) will only require their College Uniform for this event – do not wear performance uniform.  All Year 5 boys in MS or Year 6 ensembles will require the Year 5 performance uniform as per previous concert.

Co-curricular Photos – Week 3
We will be undertaking our Co-curricular Music Photos in Week 3 – Tuesday 27 July.  Students will be required to wear performance uniform for these photos.  A photo schedule and further information will be distributed to families a little later this week.

Volunteers Required
On Sunday 25 July, members from our QCMF Volunteer Community will be testing and sorting film footage from almost 600 ensembles in readiness for this year’s QCMF.  We are looking for some assistance to complete this task.  This will require your ability to open and view a video file and type times into a spreadsheet.

We will be gathering from 9am to 4pm in the Chapter Room.  For those assisting, we will provide supplies for the day (technological and sustenance).  Please contact the Music Office via email to make an expression of interest – music@vnc.qld.edu.au.

Communication re Lesson Absences
As per last term, we will continue to send a proforma to parents and students who miss a lesson without explanation.  Please understand that this is merely an opportunity to open the lines of communication and an invitation to communicate with your son’s teacher or the music office regarding the absence.

The following wording will be sent.  Please note, this is a proforma used for all students – it is not a personal communication, more an opportunity to open a dialogue:

Unfortunately, your son did not attend his instrumental music lesson today.
Please ensure he is aware of the time and date of his next lesson via the timetable previously distributed; it is attached for your reference.
To assist with our records, please contact the Music Office regarding your son’s absence – music@vnc.qld.edu.au or 3394 5691.

We look forward to our continued partnership in the musical education of your son.

Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers
Our fantastic Music Support Group have organised an innovative fundraiser for Villanova College.  You may have heard the buzz about our Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers…  the MUST HAVE items for the beach/cricket/park/fishing/BBQ/etc.

Villanova Branded Camp Chairs – $35; Wildcat Coolers – $30

All items can be purchased via TryBooking through the following link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEML

Purchases can be collected from the Music Office and all profits go to the Music Support Group.

Opportunity to Participate
The Music community at Villanova welcomes all students interested in participating in ensemble or instrument/vocal tuition.  If your son would like to take lessons on an instrument this year, please contact the Music Office on 3394 5691 or via email at music@vnc.qld.edu.au for further information.

Date Claimers
It gives me great pleasure to share our future events.  Looking forward to sharing music with our community again!

Thank you all for your ongoing support of Music at Villanova College.

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

YEAR 5, 2023 ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS
Parents with sons currently in Year 3 are reminded that enrolment applications for Year 5, 2023 close tomorrow.

LIBRARY ROSTER (MONDAY 19  – FRIDAY 23 JULY)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Library.

TUCKSHOP ROSTER (MONDAY 19  – FRIDAY 23 JULY)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.